7.21.13 — Jesus Christ The Second Adam

Romans 5:12-21

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life- giving justification for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We elect representatives in our country. After we elect them they are to speak for us, they represent us, we elected them to do so.

You may not remember going to the election booth to vote Adam as your representative, but you did. Adam is your “federal head”. This is how God can say that all sinned in Adam. We may not have performed the same sin as Adam did, but because he represented us, we are guilty of the same fault.

Through Adam, sin entered the world. This sin is like a plague that has slowly crept into every crevice on this planet. There is no place on this creation where sin does not reside. Therefore condemnation has spread to all humanity.

There is good news though! Even though Adam represented you in creation, Jesus Christ can now represent you in redemption. This time though, you will have the chance to remember going into the voting booth. At the appointed time Jesus came to this earth as the second representative for humanity. He lived the life of perfect obedience that Adam failed to live. He was then sentenced to death by crucifixion where he was punished for Adam’s sin and yours…if you will color the mark in the voting booth. I am speaking in human terms to illustrate faith. Faith is believing and resting upon Christ for your salvation. Faith is acting upon the truth of God’s Word. Faith is telling Jesus that you trust him to be your representative before God.

You may not think that it is fair for God to judge you for the sin of Adam. But will you complain that God would declare you not-guilty because of the obedience of Jesus?

So who’s your representative…Adam, Jesus, or You?